World’s Best Son-in-Law 2014 Seth Rogen took a break from being a self-described purveyor of gentalia-focused comedies to testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee as an Alzheimer’s Disease activist. He and his wife Lauren Miller started Hilarity for Charity to raise awareness and money for the disease after her mother was diagnosed at the age of 55 in 2010.
His impassioned speech cited the increasingly high incidence of the disease, as well as the exorbitant cost. According to his testimony, Alzheimer’s and dementia are the most costly diseases afflicting Americans, even more so than heart disease, this in a country where for $1.29 you can get a taco made of Doritos, he said.
There is no way to prevent, slow, or cure the disease. So Rogen, since being personally affected by Alzeheimer’s, has decided to do everything in his power to help.
Watch his testimony here:
Only two of the 18 members of the Subcommittee stayed for Rogen’s testimony, which drove him to Twitter immediately following to call them out on it.
My grandmother Mary Kress survived the Holocaust. Than she survived breast and pancreatic cancer. But when she was diagnosed with Alzheimers, I didn’t understand what my dad meant his mother (my grandmother) was losing her memories. At first it was slow and I will admit I didn’t notice it at first. Within two years her personality changed from sweet and kind, to judgment and bitter. It became harder for her to change her clothes, clean herself or bath.
Alzheimers is by far the disease ever. For everybody’s who has or knowns someone with this hellish disease my sympathy goes.
Thank you Seth Rogen for speaking about this subject
I took care of my own Mother for 10 years. At first it was just an inconvenience for her to forget something small, but as it progressed it became more and more sad and horrible to watch her forget who I was, who she was even and finally death. This disease is worse than cancer, heart disease or any other you can name, because it dehumanizes the person. I am glad this man has the courage to face the government and bring it forward. I am not surprised at the lack of interest the government shows.
Thank you, Seth, for sharing your concerns and for initiating a charity in support of Alzheimer’s patients and families. I recently lost my father to this horrible disease and I know firsthand of the impact it has emotionally and financially on the family, not to mention the loss of dignity to the patient. We must find a cure for this disease and, in the meantime, offer ways to help those affected by the disease.
Shame on them! You are very brave Seth Rogen. I am sorry for what you and your family are going through. Once again Shame on them!!
Thank you Seth Rogen. I lost my grandmother to this vile disease. I will never forget my mother sitting by her mom, with my sister at her side. My grandmother thought that my sister (who was very young at the time) was my mother.
I am 35 now and I experienced this when I was 10. It is one of the most painful memories I have.
I will support your cause in the hope that one day people will not have to watch the ones they love suffer and that we can also say a proper passing to the amazing people that raised us.
God Bless.
To be fair, at least one of the senators later said that he left because he was already late for another meeting, and did apologize for leaving.
I applaud Seth Rogen for making this a priority in his life! When you observe a loved one become debilitated by Alzheimer’s or dementia it is heart breaking. The human services in every state across nation are experiencing a constant battle to ensure citizens receive the services they need. It’s the first to get cut when there is a budget crisis. It’s sad. I hope that more Americans stand up and demand this change not just for Alzheimer’s patients but every single disabled adult. Thank you Seth!
“stayed”… does that mean that the rest of them actually LEFT before he’d had a chance to speak? If so, that’s despicable.
Elected officials only care about an issue when it has something to do with them. They don’t care about the people that elected them. Not surprised at all.
I never thought I’d say or write this: I’m actually proud of him!
They don’t care until it touches them. Then they’ll care!
Seriously, I think this shows exactly where the senators priorities are they don’t care about real problems. Only the people who can line their pockets…absolutely disgusting.
I applaud Seth for trying to use his fame for good, but in the end our system is broken.
gotta respect that